Bowler trainer device



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 14, 1960 INVENTOR.

77/001195 A. 7'A-LFOR0 A T'TOR/VIY June 5, 1962 T. L. TELFORD 3,037,299

BOWLER TRAINER DEVICE Filed NOV. 14, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

THOMAS 4. 7z-4F0R0 June 5, 1962 T. TELFORD 3,037,299

BOWLER TRAINER DEVICE Filed NOV. 14, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

THQMAS, 7 FRa' ZWMM.

A rroe/v'r United States Patent fifice 3,037,299 BOWLER TRAINER DEVICEThomas L. Telford, 1024 E. Fifth St., Royal Oak, Mich. Filed Nov. 14,1960, Ser. No. 68,807 Claims. (Cl. 3529) This invention relates topractice devices for bowling a bowling ball.

Bowlers have practiced heretofore to perfect their bowling techniques,strengthen their bowling muscles, correct their faults, and acquireadditional action on the ball, however, the several methods of the priorart entail the use of a bowling alley and same has not proven entirelysatisfactory for practice inasmuch as they are not always available, areexpensive to use, and do not give proximate visual indication of theaction of the bowling ball.

With the foregoing in view, the primary object of the invention is toprovide a practice device for bowling a bowling ball which is simple indesign and construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to use, easyto construct, readily available at home or bowling establishment, andwhich provides proximate visual observation of ball action.

An object of the invention is to provide support means for lineallysliding a bowling ball so that the bowler can move the ball lineallysuch as in bowling.

An object of the invention is to provide transverse rotational supportmeans for a bowling ball so that the bowler can impart a spin to theball in practice similarly as in bowling.

An object of the invention is to provide swivel means on a vertical axisin the bowling ball support so that the bowling ball can turn thereaboutsuch as in bowling.

An object of the invention is to provide a bowling practice device whichis relatively small so that the bowler can practice bowling in a smallarea of a bowling establishment or at home.

An object of the invention is to provide a bowling practice device whichis portable so that it can be moved from place to place with facility.

An object of the invention is to provide means by which a bowlerspersonal ball can be mounted and dismounted easily in the practicedevice without modification of the ball.

An object of the invention is to support the bowling ball above thefloor so that when the bowler bowls the ball on the device the influencehe 'gives the ball is readily discernible as the ball is free to rotatewithout floor contact thereby giving the bowler visual observa devicewith the slide broken away indicating fore-shortening in length.

FIG. 2 is a top-plan view of the device seen in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end-elevational view of the device seen in FIG. 1 showingthe slide area in cross section.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the slide as a depressedfloor channel.

FIG. 5 is a slide elevational view of another embodiment of the deviceshowing the carriage partly in cross section.

FIG. 6 is a top-plan view of the device seen in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an end-elevational view of the device taken on the line 77 ofFIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged-fragmentary view of one end of the carriageshowing the rotary head advancing and locking means.

FIG. 9 is a side-elevational view of another embodiment in theinvention.

FIG. 10 is a top-plan view of the device seen in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an end-elevational view of the device seen in FIGS. 9 and 10;and

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the ball mounting, partly in crosssection, showing the slide and bearing arrangement.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like andcorresponding parts throughout the several views, the bowling practicedevices disclosed therein to illustrate the invention comprise a guideslide 10 lineally movably supporting the carriage 11 which pivotallysupports the yokes 12 via the swivel bearing 13 with the yoke 12supporting opposed paired rotary heads 14' and 15, which in turn,support the bowling ball 16 for rotational movement about the axis ofthe heads, swivel movement about the vertical axis of the bearing 13,and lineal movement with the carriage 11 along the slide 10.

More particularly, the slide 10 may be integrated with a base 20 andside rails 21 or the slide may be embodied as a depressed channel 22 inthe floor 23 as seen in FIG. 4. The carriage 11 has a body 25 and wheels26 for movably supporting the carriage 11 on the slide 10. The swivelbearing 13 has one portion 27 mounted on the carriage body 25 and theother half mounted on the yoke web 28 and the paired arms 29 and 30support the rotatable heads 14 and 15 in face opposed relationship withthe one rotatable head 14 having a threaded bolt support 41 threaded inthe arm 29 of the yoke 12 so as to be advanceable and retractablerelative to the ball 16 for mounting and dismounting the ball betweenthe heads.

Referring to the embodiment of FIGS. 5 through 8, the slide compriseslineal slide bars 40 and 41 upon which sleeve bearings 42and 43 aredisposed respectively and which, in turn, support the end plates 44 and45 of the carriage 46 and the end plates carry the opposed rotationallydisposed heads 15 and 14 for supporting the ball 16 therebetween foreasy insertion and removal and it will be observed, FIG. 8, that bytightening and loosening the clamping screw 47 that the threaded bolt 31th'erethrough can be locked in position supporting the ball 16 so thatrotational movement thereof will not influence either tightening andloosening of the heads.

Referring now to the device seen in FIGS. 9 through 12, the slide 50 issupported on the vertical plates 51 and 52 which art attached to thebase plate 53; lineal bearings 54 and 55 disposed around the slide 50and transverse rotational bearings '56 and 57 are mounted on the linealbearings 54 and 55 respectively, and the ball 58 is mounted on therotational bearings 56 and 57 so that the ball 58 is endwise movablewith the lineal bearings 54 and 55 and transversely rotationallydisposed on the rotational bearings 56 and 57.

It will be noted that the devices seen in FIGS. 1 and 9 are portablydisplayed while the device of FIG. 5 is shown anchored to the floor withthe brackets 48 and 49 supporting the slide bars 40 and 41 at thedesired height.

In operation, the user mounts the ball of his selection, such as hispersonal ball, between the rotational heads 14 and 15 and the device isready for use in practice bowling. In the device of FIGS. 9 through 12the ball 58 is permanently mounted so that it is unnecessary to insertor attach the ball.

In operation, the bowler inserts his fingers in the ball and then movesthe ball to the rear position and then brings his hand forward as inbowling and releases the ball as in bowling whereupon the ball iscarried forward Patented June 5, 1962 lineally on the carriage 11rolling on the slide and any rotational influence given the ball by thebowler will cause the ball to rotate on the rotatable heads 14 and 15and to swivel about the vertical axis of the swivel bearing 13 and, dueto the fact that the ball is not in contact with the floor, therotational influences and lineal influences given the ball by the bowlerwill maintain themselves for a period of visual operation and study sothat the bowler can determine what action he is putting on the ballWhereas in bowling a ball on an alley the ball goes down the alley awayfrom the bowler and its ball action is diminished and out of observationdue to alley contact.

It will be noted that in the devices of FIGS. 5 and 9 that the swivelportion about the vertical axis is deleted but since the lineal motionin conjunction with the transverse rotational motion is essential inbowling, the devices of FIGS. 5 and 9 are highly useful and they providea practice and observation advantages of the invention as the bowler canreadily lineally move the ball and rotationally influence the ball asdesired and same will maintain itself for a period of time forobservation at the location of the device.

Due to the fact that the average bowler does not really know how muchaction he has imparted to the ball from a visual standpoint, the devicereadily advises the bowler as to his ball influencing rotation and thedevice provides practice means with a minimum of space.

Although but a single embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed in detail it is obvious that many changes may be made in thesize, shape, detail, and arrangement of the various elements of theinvention within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A bowling practice device for providing a bowler with facilities forgripping, moving and releasing a bowling ball substantially the same asin bowling a ball on an alley and which provides visual indication ofthe rotational influences imparted to the ball by the bowler in bowlingfor study, analysis, correction, and practice comprising a slide, acarriage lineally movable along said slide, a yoke having a web portionand paired opposed upwardly extending arms, swivel means pivotallysupporting said yoke web about a vertical axis on said carriage, pairedopposed rotatably supported ball supporting heads on said yoke armsadapted to support a bowling ball for rotational movement therebetweenin a horizontal plane; said slide, carriage, swivel means, and headsbeing capable of supporting a bowling ball above the floor for compoundlineal movement, rotational movement about a vertical axis, androtational movement in a horizontal plane giving the user practicefacility and proximate visual indication of ball action for study,analysis, correction, and development.

2. A bowling practice device for providing a bowler with facilities forgripping, moving and releasing a bowling ball substantially the same asin bowling a ball on an alley and which provides visual indication ofthe rotational influences imparted to the ball by the bowler in bowlingfor study, analysis, correction, and practice comprising paired slides,means supporting said slides, a carriage lineally slidably supported onsaid slides, and paired opposed ball gripping and supporting headstransversely rotationally supported on said carriage for lineal movementtherewith; said heads being adapted to rotatably support a bowling balltherebetween; said slides, carriage, and heads being capable ofsupporting a bowling ball for compound lineal movement and transverserotational spin as in bowling giving the user practice facility and All)4- proximate visual indication of ball action for study, analysis,correction, and development.

3. A bowling practice device for providing a bowler with facilities forgripping, moving and releasing a bowl ing ball substantially the same asin bowling a ball on an alley and which provides visual indication ofthe rotational influence imparted to the ball by the bowler in thebowling for study, analysis, correction, and practice comprising aslide, means supporting said slide, a first lineal bearing endwiseslidably disposed on said slide for endwise slidably supporting abowling ball on said slide, a second bearing transversely rotationallydisposed around said first bearing for rotationally supporting bowlingball on said slide, and a bowling ball disposed on said second bearing;said slide and said bearings supporting said bowling ball for compoundlineal movement and rotational spin as in bowling giving the userpractice and proximate visual indication of ball action for study,analysis, correction, and development.

4. A bowling practice device for providing a bowler with practice meansfor gripping, moving, and releasing a bowling ball similarly to bowlinga ball on a bowling alley and which provides practice facilities withoutusing a bowling alley and proximate visual indication of rotationalinfluences imparted to a bowling ball in bowling comprising rotationalball supporting means adapted to rotationally support a bowling ball ona horizontal axis for rotational movement, lineal movement meanssupporting said rotational ball supporting means for lineal movementtherewith; said rotational and lineal movement means being adapted tosupport a bowling ball for compound lineal and rotational movement as inbowling giving the user facilities for practice and proximate visualobservation of ball action and swivel means interposed between saidrotational movement ball supporting means and said lineal movementsupporting means pivotally supporting said rotational movement means onsaid lineal movement means.

5. A bowling practice device for providing a bowler with practice meansfor gripping, moving, and releasing a bowling ball similarly to bowlinga ball on a bowling alley and which provides practice facilities withoutusing a bowling alley and proximate visual indication of rotationalinfluences imparted to a bowling ball in bowling comprising a horizontalrod having a longitudinal axis constituting the bowling ball linealpath, rotational ball supporting means on said rod adapted to angularlyrotationally support a bowling ball on said rod longitudinal axis forangular rotational movement about said rod transverse to the bowlingball path; lineal movement means on said rod for movement along said rodlongitudinal axis supporting said rotational ball supporting means forlineal movement along said rod therewith; said rotational and linealmovement means being adapted to support a bowling ball for compoundlineal movement along said rod longitudinal axis and rotational movementangularly about said rod longitudinal axis, and a ball on said meansgiving the user facilities for practice and proximate visual observationof ball action; said ball having finger holes for gripping said ball andvisual indicia for indicating angular rotation of said ball.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS973,799 McKinley Oct. 25, 1910 1,625,676 Pajeau Apr. 19, 1927 2,499,470Duncan Mar. 7, 1950

